UNC

Stands for "Universal Naming Convention or Uniform Naming Convention."

UNC is a standard format for naming and accessing shared resources on a local area network (LAN). Using it allows an operating system that supports UNC (like Windows) to access files and folders over a network just as easily as on the local computer. UNC can identify many types of devices on the network — computers, printers, scanners, NAS devices, or any other device that can store and share files.

A UNC path consists of three elements: the server name, the shared directory, and the filename, separated by backslashes. A UNC can be entered anywhere in an operating system that a local file path would be to access a shared network resource.

A typical UNC path appears as follows:

\\server-name\shared-directory\filename

  • The server name can be a string that identifies a server set by the server's administrator using DNS or WINS, or it could be the server's IP address.
  • The shared directory is a directory shared on the other device. Each share on the server is separate from the others.
  • The filename is not necessarily only a file name. It can also contain subfolders of the shared directory to display the full file path.
Updated November 2, 2022 by Brian P.

quizTest Your Knowledge

What is the minimum bit depth required for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video?

A
8 bits per channel
0%
B
10 bits per channel
0%
C
12 bits per channel
0%
D
14 bits per channel
0%
Correct! Incorrect!     View the HDR definition.
More Quizzes →

The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary

The definition of UNC on this page is an original definition written by the TechTerms.com team. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation links above.

The goal of TechTerms.com is to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. If you have feedback about this definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please contact us.

Sign up for the free TechTerms Newsletter

How often would you like to receive an email?

You can unsubscribe or change your frequency setting at any time using the links available in each email.

Questions? Please contact us.